Improved submarine pump-dredge



larly describe it, though I do not wish to be understood tant latmrt' @than DAVID QUINN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 89,073, dated April 20, 1869.

IMPROVED SU'BlldARINIIA PUMP-DREDG-E.

Thn Schedule refen'e to in `these Letters Patent and making of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern: on board an engine, which is not shown, but which Be itrknown that I, DAVID QUINN, of Chicago, in the county oi.' Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Submarine Excavators; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a plan view, showing my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an elevation, showing the pump and its connections.v

Figure 4 is a plan and section of pipe-joint.

Hitherto, submarine excavations have been made exclusively by machines which scooped up the earth and deposited it in some place, from whence it might be conveyed away. Such machines are costly, and impossible of employment in some situations, as, for instance, in a sea-way, where the motion ofthe waves wil-l render it impossible to manage the excavators.

My invention dispenses with all of the expensive scoopiiig-apparatus, and operates merely as a disturbing force, te loosen the material of the bottom, which shall then be carried away and removed by the force of the current.

My invention is applicable for removing sand-bars and similar obstructions existing in rivers and tideways, and movements of the vessel in a sea-way will not, under ordinary circumstances, materially retard the work, nor cause inconvenience or danger of breakage to the machinery.

That others may understand the method which I have adopted to carry out my invention, I will particuthe excavati11g-apparatus.

Said apparatus consists of suitable pumps, B, either rotary or reciprocating, as may bc preferred, and jetpipes C, which convey the water-jet to the vicinity of the material to be removed, and by its hydraulic-power disturband raise said material from its bed to be re moved away by the passing current. Any desired number of pumps or jets may be employed.

'I he jet-pipe Gis connected tothe outlet of the pump by a hollow joint, as at D, so that the position of the jet C may be changed at will to bring the nozzle in proper contiguity to the bottom, or material to be excavated, and lateral movements of the jets are prevented by guides E, placed outside of said jets, but secured at their ends to the hull of the vessel A.

The inclined positions of the jets may also bc dctermined and controlled by quadrants F or some other suitable and proper device.

It may sometimes be necessary to employ flexible pipes to convey the water-jets to nozzles situated upon the bottom, and held upon such bottom by means of suitable weights. Such weights being used to prevent said pipes from floating upon thc water, while at the same time they allow the pipes to drag upon the bottom of the stream or other body of water where they are being used.

Divers may, if necessary, be employed to superintend and direct the positions of the jets.

Having described my invention,

What I claim as new, is-

The guides E, in combination with the quadrant F, pipe C, and pump B, when the same are used in 'the manner and for the purposes herein specified.

` DAVID QUINN.

as confining myself to said method in its details, which may be greatly varied and which in different situations would necessarily be varied, limiting myself only to the principles of operation as applied to submarine excavations.

Y W itnesscs:

R. D. 0. SMITH,

A represents thc hull of a suitable vessel, having It. S. TURNER.

may be used both to propel the vessel and to operate 

